Vet suspended over cat death employed as head surgeon in Hackney

Goddard Veterinary Group Practice in Well Street. Photograph: Google Street View

A veterinary surgeon was working as head surgeon in a Hackney practice whilst an investigation into the death of a cat in his care was ongoing.

Dr Isaco De Armas Jimenez was handed an eight-month suspension from practicing as a veterinary surgeon following a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Disciplinary Hearing which took place from 11 to 14 August.

During the hearing, the vet admitted disgraceful conduct in a professional respect after a series of charges of serious professional misconduct were proved against him relating to an incident in 2022.

However, according to the Goddard Veterinary Group Practice (GVGP) website, Dr De Armas Jimenez has been employed as the head surgeon at their Hackney branch in Well Street.

When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Goddard Veterinary Group Practice said Mr De Armas Jimenez had not been working within the business since 18 August – four days after the conclusion of the hearing.

The spokesperson added that, as of today, the vet is no longer an employee of Goddard Veterinary Group.

The spokesperson said: “We were aware of RCVS disciplinary proceedings relating to the treatment of an animal while the vet was previously employed by a different veterinary group.

“There will be no further comment on this matter.”

Dr De Armas Jimenez’s suspension relates to his care for a cat while working as a locum at a Medivet practice in Camberwell in April 2022.

The cat, named Moustache, died several hours after being brought to the practice by his owner, who then raised her concerns about his care.

Dr De Armas Jimenez disputed the allegation that he had behaved aggressively while trying to take Moustache’s rectal temperature and argued the procedure was clinically important despite her objecting to it.

But, he admitted failures including not obtaining informed consent for sedating Moustache, not taking adequate action when emergency measures were needed and not providing adequate details to the owner following Moustache’s death.

He also admitted failing to compile adequate clinical records of the sedation and failing to have professional indemnity insurance in place at the time of the case.

Further allegations that he had not fitted a tube for intubation or carried out chest compressions were found to be proved by the committee, who said he had produced records to “cover up what he had not done”.

Paul Morris, chairing the disciplinary committee, said: “Misconduct in this case involved breaches of the RCVS Code, caused serious harm to both the cat and the client, and involved dishonesty which was concealed.”

The committee heard the practice’s lead vet had subsequently apologised to Moustache’s owner and assured her he would not employ Dr De Armas Jimenez’s services again.

Mitigation for Dr De Armas Jimenez stressed the case was a “single isolated incident” and he had no previous disciplinary record.

He further expressed “deep shame” at the committee’s findings against him and said he had moved away from locum and night work following the incident.

Dr De Armas Jimenez was handed an eight month period of suspension at the end of the hearing.

The panel concluded permanent removal from the register would be “punitive” and a suspension would both serve the public interest and reflect the severity of his actions.

Mr Morris said: “In deciding on this period of suspension, the committee took into account both mitigating and aggravating factors and the mitigation Dr De Armas Jimenez had put before it.

“It concluded that this period of suspension had a deterrent effect and sent a signal as to how serious the committee had found the misconduct to be. It also took into account Dr De Armas Jimenez’s remorse and insight.”